Page 74 of Enemy Games

“Not at innocent players that dare to get in the same vicinity as Presley. They’re supposed to block her.”

I dropped back into my seat and rubbed my face. I was close to losing it, and there was still a period and a half to go.

“What’s wrong?” Ethan asked from my other side.

“I’m just worried. I don’t want her to get hurt again, but she was adamant about showing her team she belongs here.”

“I don’t think anyone doubted that.” Benjamin scowled and stared at the bench where the team sat. “Who was saying that?”

“I’m not sure who exactly, but there some were complaining she was putting the Olympics ahead of the team.”

Presley cut close to the boards and narrowly missed getting hit. I sucked in a breath and closed my eyes. My heart couldn't take this much stress.

“That’s messed up,” Benjamin said in a low voice.

“She’s going back.” Reid tapped my shoulder. “You’re good for a few minutes.”

“You’re just nervous. It’s normal.” Benjamin never took his eyes off the action.

“I probably wouldn’t have played either,” Ethan admitted. “Too risky for me.”

At least one of them agreed.

I was able to relax for six minutes before Presley rotated back into position. I fisted my jeans, tracking her as she took possession and spun around.

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. The other team missed a shot. Presley took possession, and she was gliding toward their goal. Two teammates flanked her. Then out of nowhere, the player that missed caught up. She was aiming straight for Presley, her stick in both hands, raising them from her thighs to her waist and higher and higher.

Presley stopped and turned to check for her rightwing. She didn’t see it coming. The other player didn’t stop. Didn’t even attempt to slow down, just held her stick ready, level with Presley's head.

The snap sent a shiver through my body, and I watched in frozen horror as Presley dropped. She didn’t try to break her fall. She didn’t turn to land on her back. She went face first into the ice and didn’t move.

The guys cursed around me. Benjamin was on his feet. Ethan was shoving at my shoulder, but I couldn’t do anything. I just stared at her motionless form.

“She’s not getting up. Why isn’t she getting up?” Reid was muttering over and over again.

“Hunter!” Benjamin yelled my name, and it was enough to pull me out of the haze. Karly and Chris pulled their helmets off and knelt next to Presley.

Karly waved toward the bench, yelling something I couldn’t hear.

Matthew and her coach ran out, moving the girls out of the way.

“Where are the medics?” Ethan asked, and I realized it was taking too long. They should be out there by now.

I scanned the seating, looking for them coming from any of the entrances. Presley needed help. They hadn’t touched her. Hadn’t rolled her over to her back. This was bad. So, so bad.

“Move!” I roared as I jumped over the legs of people that weren’t quick enough to get out of my way.

I was three sections away from the rail that separated the audience from the entrance the Zambonis used. It was the closest access to the ice, and I had to get to it. To her.

“Where are the EMTs?” I screamed when I was close enough to the arena staff for them to hear. A few of them looked around, oblivious to the urgency of this moment.

“Get them!” Benjamin yelled from behind me.

One of them lifted a radio to his mouth, but no one was moving fast enough. This wasn’t a joke. It wasn’t a drill. We needed the medics here minutes ago!

“Hurry!” I jumped over the railing and landed in front of the doors cut into the boards. I pulled back the two heavy bars that locked them in place, then Benjamin and I ran onto the ice toward Karly and Chris who were standing next to Presley. Coach Jarry and Matthew were kneeling at her sides.

“What’s wrong?” My heart was in my throat, especially when Chris turned to me with horror in her eyes.